Patents by Inventor Masanari Okuno

Masanari Okuno has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8881563
    Abstract: An electric steering wheel lock device including a lock bar which moves between a lock position, at which the lock bar prohibits rotation of a steering shaft, and an unlock position, at which the lock bar permits rotation of the steering shaft. An electric motor generates drive force for moving the lock bar. A motor holding member for holding the electric motor includes a motor fastening portion having two contact portions, which face toward each other, to clamp a casing of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukatsu, Masanari Okuno, Nobuhisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 8758039
    Abstract: The locking device is for arrangement in the connector receptacle, which is connected to the charging connector that charges a battery, to interlock the connector receptacle and the charging connector. The locking device includes a notch engageable with a hook arranged in the charging connector. A lock bar is movable between a lock position, at which the lock bar restricts movement of the hook and keeps the hook and lock bar engaged, and an unlock position, at which the lock bar moves away from the hook and permits movement of the hook. A drive unit generates drive force for moving the lock bar from the unlock position to the lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishida, Masanari Okuno, Shinji Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20120186309
    Abstract: The locking device is for arrangement in the connector receptacle, which is connected to the charging connector that charges a battery, to interlock the connector receptacle and the charging connector. The locking device includes a notch engageable with a hook arranged in the charging connector. A lock bar is movable between a lock position, at which the lock bar restricts movement of the hook and keeps the hook and lock bar engaged, and an unlock position, at which the lock bar moves away from the hook and permits movement of the hook. A drive unit generates drive force for moving the lock bar from the unlock position to the lock position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishida, Masanari Okuno, Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7921684
    Abstract: A steering lock apparatus for locking a steering shaft of a vehicle. The steering lock apparatus includes a motor and a lock assembly that is moved by the motor. The lock assembly includes a lock bar that moves between a lock position at which the lock bar is engaged with the steering shaft and an unlock position at which the lock bar is disengaged from the steering shaft. A magnet receptacle portion is arranged on the lock assembly. A magnet is attached to the magnet receptacle portion and moved integrally with the lock assembly. A magnetic field detection element detects a present position of the lock assembly based on a magnetic field of the magnet. The magnet is magnetically held and positioned in the magnet receptacle portion by magnetic attraction force produced between the magnet and a part of the lock assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masanari Okuno, Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Nobuhisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 7823426
    Abstract: A built-in step is conducted by building a drive part which generates a rotation drive power, a rotation shaft to be rotated by the rotation drive power of the drive part through a gear mechanism, a lock stopper to be screwed with the rotation shaft to move axially by rotating of the rotation shaft, a lock bar which moves between a lock position for locking a steering shaft by movement of the lock stopper and an unlock position for unlocking the steering shaft, and a first spring interposed between the lock stopper and the lock bar for giving a bias load, into a lock body to be installed in a mounting hole part of a steering column post of a vehicle from the same direction. Thereafter, a screwing step for screwing the rotation shaft and the lock stopper after the built-in step is conducted to assemble an electric steering lock device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Tokai Rika Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Okuno, Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Nobuhisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 7703309
    Abstract: An electric steering lock device has a lock body to be installed in a mounting hole part of a steering column post of a vehicle, a drive part which generates a rotation drive power, a rotation shaft to be rotated by the rotation drive power of the drive part through a gear mechanism, a lock stopper to be screwed with the rotation shaft to move axially by rotating of the rotation shaft, a lock bar which moves between a lock position for locking a steering shaft by movement of the lock stopper and an unlock position for unlocking the steering shaft, and a bush. The bush has a load receiving part to receive thrust loading of the rotation shaft at least at one side of the rotation shaft, an installation claw part to be installed by inserting in a hole part of the lock body, and a bearing claw part to receive radial load by fitting to be slidably rotatable with an external diameter of the rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Tokai Rika Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Okuno, Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Nobuhisa Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100083716
    Abstract: An electric steering wheel lock device including a lock bar which moves between a lock position, at which the lock bar prohibits rotation of a steering shaft, and an unlock position, at which the lock bar permits rotation of the steering shaft. An electric motor generates drive force for moving the lock bar. A motor holding member for holding the electric motor includes a motor fastening portion having two contact portions, which face toward each other, to clamp a casing of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukatsu, Masanari Okuno, Nobuhisa Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080178643
    Abstract: A built-in step is conducted by building a drive part which generates a rotation drive power, a rotation shaft to be rotated by the rotation drive power of the drive part through a gear mechanism, a lock stopper to be screwed with the rotation shaft to move axially by rotating of the rotation shaft, a lock bar which moves between a lock position for locking a steering shaft by movement of the lock stopper and an unlock position for unlocking the steering shaft, and a first spring interposed between the lock stopper and the lock bar for giving a bias load, into a lock body to be installed in a mounting hole part of a steering column post of a vehicle from the same direction. Thereafter, a screwing step for screwing the rotation shaft and the lock stopper after the built-in step is conducted to assemble an electric steering lock device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TOKAI RIKA CO., LTD
    Inventors: Masanari OKUNO, Hiroyasu HASEGAWA, Nobuhisa INOUE
  • Publication number: 20080178644
    Abstract: An electric steering lock device has a lock body to be installed in a mounting hole part of a steering column post of a vehicle, a drive part which generates a rotation drive power, a rotation shaft to be rotated by the rotation drive power of the drive part through a gear mechanism, a lock stopper to be screwed with the rotation shaft to move axially by rotating of the rotation shaft, a lock bar which moves between a lock position for locking a steering shaft by movement of the lock stopper and an unlock position for unlocking the steering shaft, and a bush. The bush has a load receiving part to receive thrust loading of the rotation shaft at least at one side of the rotation shaft, an installation claw part to be installed by inserting in a hole part of the lock body, and a bearing claw part to receive radial load by fitting to be slidably rotatable with an external diameter of the rotation shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TOKAI RIKA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanari OKUNO, Hiroyasu HASEGAWA, Nobuhisa INOUE
  • Publication number: 20080047309
    Abstract: A steering lock apparatus for locking a steering shaft of a vehicle. The steering lock apparatus includes a motor and a lock assembly that is moved by the motor. The lock assembly includes a lock bar that moves between a lock position at which the lock bar is engaged with the steering shaft and an unlock position at which the lock bar is disengaged from the steering shaft. A magnet receptacle portion is arranged on the lock assembly. A magnet is attached to the magnet receptacle portion and moved integrally with the lock assembly. A magnetic field detection element detects a present position of the lock assembly based on a magnetic field of the magnet. The magnet is magnetically held and positioned in the magnet receptacle portion by magnetic attraction force produced between the magnet and a part of the lock assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Masanari Okuno, Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Nobuhisa Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080041128
    Abstract: An activation restricting apparatus for an engine starting system that may be produced with a compact size. The apparatus includes an operating mechanism, an actuator, and a control unit. The operating mechanism starts and stops the engine and has a plurality of positions including a LOCK position. The operating mechanism includes a first stopper prohibiting movement of the operating mechanism from the LOCK position and a second stopper prohibiting movement of the operating mechanism to the LOCK position. The control unit enables the engine to be started when the operating mechanism is in the LOCK position and a first ID code sent from a portable device matches a second ID code. The control unit enables the operating mechanism to be moved to the LOCK position when the operating mechanism is not in the LOCK position and the vehicle is not moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ohtaki, Shoichi Harada, Masanari Okuno, Osamu Shoji
  • Patent number: 7328596
    Abstract: A steering lock that is easy to assemble but difficult for an automobile thief to dismantle. The steering lock includes a cover on which a support structure for supporting a lock mechanism is integrally formed. The lock mechanism is attached to the cover to assemble a first subunit. A steering lock ECU is attached to an ECU case to assemble a second subunit. The first subunit is attached to the second subunit to assemble a lock unit. The lock unit is attached to the housing. A bolt fastens the lock unit and the housing to each other. A second connector is then attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Masanari Okuno, Takeshi Murakami, Mitsuo Murakami
  • Patent number: 7316138
    Abstract: A steering lock mechanism that is compact and effectively prevents vehicle theft. The steering lock mechanism includes a steering column for rotatably accommodating a steering shaft. The steering column is sandwiched by a lock body and a bracket, which are fastened to each other. A lock bar accommodated in the lock body restricts rotation of the steering shaft. A hinged fastening portion, which fastens the bracket to the lock body, includes a pin, a pin support arranged on the lock body to support the pin when the pin is inserted into the pin support in a partially exposed state, a hook arranged on the bracket and hooked to the exposed part of the pin, and a stopper, arranged on the bracket or the body, for preventing the hook from being unhooked from the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hirofumi Goshima, Masanari Okuno
  • Patent number: 7302817
    Abstract: An activation restricting apparatus for an engine starting system that may be produced with a compact size. The apparatus includes an operating mechanism, an actuator, and a control unit. The operating mechanism starts and stops the engine and has a plurality of positions including a LOCK position. The operating mechanism includes a first stopper prohibiting movement of the operating mechanism from the LOCK position and a second stopper prohibiting movement of the operating mechanism to the LOCK position. The control unit enables the engine to be started when the operating mechanism is in the LOCK position and a first ID code sent from a portable device matches a second ID code. The control unit enables the operating mechanism to be moved to the LOCK position when the operating mechanism is not in the LOCK position and the vehicle is not moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ohtaki, Shoichi Harada, Masanari Okuno, Osamu Shoji
  • Patent number: 7234328
    Abstract: A steering lock device including a sleeve assembly, a rear shaft rotated when a steering wheel is operated, and a lock bar for locking the steering shaft when engaged with a seat member fixed to the rear shaft. A sleeve assembly including an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve is shortened when the outer sleeve moves along the inner sleeve. The distal portion of the lock bar includes a slope that is abut against an open end of the inner sleeve. When the open end pushes the slope, the lock bar smoothly moves away from the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masanari Okuno, Takeshi Murakami, Mitsuo Murakami
  • Publication number: 20070068207
    Abstract: A steering lock mechanism that is compact and effectively prevents vehicle theft. The steering lock mechanism includes a steering column for rotatably accommodating a steering shaft. The steering column is sandwiched by a lock body and a bracket, which are fastened to each other. A lock bar accommodated in the lock body restricts rotation of the steering shaft. A hinged fastening portion, which fastens the bracket to the lock body, includes a pin, a pin support arranged on the lock body to support the pin when the pin is inserted into the pin support in a partially exposed state, a hook arranged on the bracket and hooked to the exposed part of the pin, and a stopper, arranged on the bracket or the body, for preventing the hook from being unhooked from the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hirofumi Goshima, Masanari Okuno
  • Patent number: 7055351
    Abstract: An electrically-driven steering lock device is provided having a lock body that, if broken while a vehicle is parked, the lock body is divided into a main body portion and a guide portion. A lock pin is inserted through a through-hole of a movable plate and fits into a fit-in hole formed in a lock stopper such that movement of the lock stopper is impeded. A locked state of a steering shaft is thereby maintained. Further, movement of the movable plate in a direction of being pulled-out also is impeded by the lock pin, and an interior of the guide portion is prevented from being exposed. Moreover, the lock pin is provided within the guide portion, and even if the guide portion is viewed from an exterior, it is difficult to learn of a mechanism and a position of the lock pin. Therefore, it is difficult to cancel a locked state. Thus an electrically-driven steering lock device is provided in which it is difficult to cancel the locked state by an illegal act, and which has a good antitheft quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Noriyuki Suzuki, Masanari Okuno, Tomohiro Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 7021093
    Abstract: An antitheft system for a vehicle has an electrically-driven steering lock device. In the lock device, due to a lock arm, which is formed integrally with a helical gear, being driven to rotate by a motor, a lock stopper and a lock bar are moved toward a steering shaft and are set in a locked state. Usually, locking is released by the lock stopper and the lock bar being moved toward a side opposite the steering shaft due to elastic urging force of a spring. In a case in which the lock bar catches on an engagement groove and the lock stopper cannot be moved only by the urging force of the spring, a cam, which is rotated integrally with the helical gear, pushes the lock stopper upward such that locking is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukatsu, Masanari Okuno, Noriyuki Suzuki, Shozo Kito
  • Patent number: 7007525
    Abstract: An electric steering lock device which can prevent a motor from being overloaded and can increase the drive force of the motor. The electric steering lock device of the present invention has a lock bar which moves according to the movement of a cam follower. The cam follower relatively moves in a spiral cam groove in accordance with the rotation of a rotary plate driven by an electric motor, thereby the cam follower moves along the radial direction of the rotary plate. The cam follower can be disengaged from the cam groove via the end portions of the cam groove according to the rotation of the rotary plate. When the cam follower is disengaged from the cam groove, the rotation of the rotary plate is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masanari Okuno, Tomoyuki Funayama, Toshio Asahi, Tomoo Kakegawa
  • Publication number: 20060021398
    Abstract: A steering lock that is easy to assemble but difficult for an automobile thief to dismantle. The steering lock includes a cover on which a support structure for supporting a lock mechanism is integrally formed. The lock mechanism is attached to the cover to assemble a first subunit. A steering lock ECU is attached to an ECU case to assemble a second subunit. The first subunit is attached to the second subunit to assemble a lock unit. The lock unit is attached to the housing. A bolt fastens the lock unit and the housing to each other. A second connector is then attached to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Masanari Okuno, Takeshi Murakami, Mitsuo Murakami